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I had been lusting after a compact 45 with a decent capacity for quite awhile. Primarily I was interested in getting back to carrying a 45 from a 9mm after losing 125 pounds with my gastric bypass surgery. I wanted a 45 with a 10rd capacity and an ability to load even higher capacity mags. My choices were either a Glock M30 or the XD and I'd already owned and sold the Glock. I find them too blocky for my smallish hands. But I'd once fired the full size XD 45 owned by a client (I'm an NRA Certified Firearms Instructor with over 20 years experience) of mine and was very pleased with the entire experience. So I ordered the gun from my (now) favorite online source, Bud's. I simply have never been able to find a better price anywhere.

So I got the gun from my home FFL and of course my first task is to check the chamber so I grab the slide in my left hand and attempt to rack it back. WHOA! I handed the gun to the FFL (also a gunsmith and a superb one) and ask HIM to try. He pulls it to the rear with difficulty and says: "Ummmmm maybe this was set up for +P ammo?" So I took it to a nearby range and put it thru my "GO TO WAR test." I used to be a US Army Officer. One of my best bud's was a special forces Lieutenant Colonel and he once said if HE had to "go to war" and take a sidearm from the box into battle he'd want it to be "X" and NO I won't tell you which one he was speaking of! But the TEST is to shoot it right from the box (without prior cleaning or lubrication) and see how long it takes to fail. The XD passed with flying colors and it wasn't even the one my buddy was speaking of originally. LOL. I took a brand new firearm and put maybe two hundred rounds thru it with ZERO malfunctions.

However, there was a "glitch" and it wasn't so much a problem I could identify as being in the weapon. That dang recoil spring is just almost too durn tough to pull to the rear with the non firing hand! I even sent it back to Springfield Armory to check it and they said they'd tuned the extractor some, but that the recoil spring was properly tensioned. Wow. So I ran an IDPA match with the gun. I found that I was unable to rack the slide back with sufficient force to decisively extract the unfired round at the end of the string and that is UNSAFE. I know, I'm also an IDPA certified Safety Officer. But as the seasoned instructor that I am, I knew that there are many techniques to overcome any difficulty in the realm of shooting either for competition or survival. So I tried another technique. So I clamped my weak or non firing hand over the top of the slide near the rear sight. I clamped it tight and shoved my firing hand, gripping the weapon correctly, straight forward and you know what? That slide popped back nice and tight and the dummy round I had inserted just ejected with a decisive "PING!!!"

This is my new EDC (Every Day Carry) piece and so I have added some aftermarket parts to make it even better: Besides the near obligatory extra mags (both std 10 rd and Hi-Cap 13 rd magazines) I ordered a set of TRITIUM--FIBER OPTIC sights since my eyes are aging and I need the extra definition. I also ordered a set of Crimson Trace Laser Grips, which for the XD is actually a module that has a cut out to handle the grip safety. I have become a big fan of lasers recently and find them to be very useful. My overall impression of this firearm is that it serves every purpose for which it was designed with admirable ease and reliability. The recoil spring is still very tough and so I might not recommend this for a novice shooter for only that reason. Otherwise this gun is great and it should be purchased from BUD'S if you want the best price. No I don't work for the company nor do any of my relatives or friends.

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